This species is distinguished by the following characters: A III.5; rigid dorsal-fin spines; relatively long snout with length 18.0-21.2% (mean 19.6%) of SL, and is longer than postorbital length; posterior margin of maxilla just reaching to or short of vertical through the anterior margin of pupil; the distance between tips of lateral lacrimal and first suborbital spines is longer than that between tips of first and second suborbital spines; presence of supplemental preopercular spine; tentacles on supraocular and posterior lacrimal spines are poorly developed, lengths are less than orbit diameter; with few tentacles on trunk and fins; lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines are well developed, with pointed tips; membranes between last spine and fourth soft ray of dorsal fin with a large black blotch (Ref. 106976).